No one is expecting Palmer to suddenly take over for Kerry Collins this season and subsequently lead the Giants to a Super Bowl triumph. That scenario is about as probable as the one Brady conjured up when he took over for injured Drew Bledsoe and completed a magic act by carrying the Patriots to an astonishing victory over the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

“Far-fetched” is the way Palmer describes this entire line of thinking. Entering his second season with the Giants, Palmer has moved up one notch and is now the backup quarterback, a role filled for past two years by Jason Garrett. The Giants cut Garrett and wouldn’t mind bringing him back, but they won’t because it will cost at least $725,000 against the salary cap, which is too rich for the Giants’ limited budget.

Palmer, who looks sharp in this camp, had a typical rookie year, watching from the side and not appearing in any games, and he will receive extensive playing time in most or all of the Giants’ five preseason games. If he completely flops, the team will be forced to sign a more experienced quarterback. If not, Palmer is the backup, just like Brady was last season in New England.

The Palmer-Brady comparison does have merit. Both came from big-time college programs (Florida for Palmer, Michigan for Brady), both were considered decent but not prime prospects (Brady was a sixth-round pick in 2000, Palmer a fourth-round pick in 2001) and both spent their first NFL year glued to the bench.

“I do agree, there are some similarities,” Palmer said. “He came out one year before I did, we both went to big schools, we both were drafted on the second day and in our first seasons we kind of sat back and learned. As of right now that’s where it stops, because he’s the Super Bowl MVP and I haven’t taken a snap yet. I can aspire to be like him. It was pretty incredible, how fast he climbed.”

Like Brady, Palmer sensed early in his NFL career that he must be diligent in his work, and this offseason he all-but lived at Giants Stadium. Considering he’s never thrown a pass in a real game, making him the backup does pose a risk, but that’s the direction the Giants are headed.

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The Giants today will work out Phil Stambaugh, whom they hope to sign as their third quarterback. Stambaugh, who starred at Lehigh, has been in a handful of NFL camps and is coming off a shoulder injury from a stint in the Arena League. . . . S Shaun Williams has tendinitis in his right knee. “We’ll cool him down for a while,” Jim Fassel said.